Science Policy Around the Web – November 9, 2011

Regulating Off-Label Drug Use – Off-label drug use (taking a drug for a condition that it is not specifically approved for) accounts for over 20% of prescriptions written. This practice allows physicians flexibility when a drug can be useful in treating more than its indicated disease, but it can also encourage companies to promote off-label uses that have not been clinically tested. (via the New England Journal of Medicine, by Randall S. Stafford, M.D., Ph.D)

Dispute Over USDA’s Proposed School Lunch Rules – The USDA has proposed new rules that will make school lunches healthier by increasing fruits and vegetables and decreasing starch and salt. Critics say that the new proposals are too restrictive and will result in lunches kids won’t eat. (via The New York Times, by Ron Nixon)

Why Science Majors Change Their Minds – “…middle and high school students are having most of the fun, building their erector sets and dropping eggs into water to test the first law of motion. The excitement quickly fades as students brush up against the reality of what David E. Goldberg, an emeritus engineering professor, calls “the math-science death march.” Freshmen in college wade through a blizzard of calculus, physics and chemistry in lecture halls with hundreds of other students. And then many wash out.” (via The New York Times, by Christopher Drew)

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